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State Reports First Coal Mine Fatality Of 2025, In Boone County

A yellow miner's hat is placed on top of pieces of coal, with mining tools and an orange safety jacket.Mine Safety and Health Administration
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A coal miner was killed on the job early Wednesday in Boone County, marking the state’s first mine fatality of the year and the first since September.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey said late Wednesday that 55-year-old Stephen Fields of Chauncey died of his injuries at the Twilight surface mine.

The state Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training and the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration are investigating. 

The agencies are expected to release more detail about Fields’ death in the days to come.

The Twilight mine is operated by Lexington Coal, which is owned by the Hoops family.

In November, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia held Lexington Coal in contempt for its failure to correct violations of the Clean Water Act and a federal law that governs the reclamation of surface mines.

It was the third time since 2021 the court held the mine operator in contempt over violations at two mines in Mingo County. The case is ongoing.

Terry Fletcher, a spokesman for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, said Lexington Coal owes nearly $2.9 million in penalties and is on a payment plan with the agency.

The Hoops family owned another mine operator, Blackjewel. In 2019, Blackjewel filed for bankruptcy, abruptly cutting off paychecks to 600 Kentucky miners. 

Some of the miners blocked a loaded coal train for weeks in protest. Facing court challenges, Blackjewel eventually paid $5 million in back pay to the miners.